Sakoontala or the Lost Ring eBook

ACT IV.

Enter one of_ Kanwa’s Pupils just arisen
from his couch at the dawn of day.

PUPIL.

My master, the venerable Kanwa, who is but lately
returned from his pilgrimage, has ordered me to ascertain
how the time goes. I have therefore come into
the open air to see if it be still dark.

[Walking and looking about.]

Oh! the dawn has already broken.

Lo! in one quarter of the sky, the Moon,
Lord of the herbs and night-expanding
flowers,
Sinks towards his bed behind the western
hills;
While in the east, preceded by the Dawn,
His blushing charioteer[59], the glorious
Sun
Begins his course, and far into the gloom
Casts the first radiance of his orient
beams.
Hail! co-eternal orbs, that rise to set,
And set to rise again; symbols divine
Of man’s reverses, life’s
vicissitudes.

And now,

While the round Moon withdraws his looming
disc
Beneath the western sky, the full-blown
flower
Of the night-loving lotus[60] sheds her
leave
In sorrow for his loss, bequeathing nought
But the sweet memory of her loveliness
To my bereaved sight; e’en as the
bride
Disconsolately mourns her absent lord,
And yields her heart a prey to anxious
grief.

ANASUYA. [Entering
abruptly.

Little as I know of the ways of the world, I cannot
help thinking that King Dushyanta is treating [S’]akoontala
very improperly.

PUPIL.

Well, I must let my revered preceptor know that it
is time to offer the burnt oblation.

[Exit.

ANASUYA.

I am broad awake, but what shall I do? I have
no energy to go about my usual occupations. My
hands and feet seem to have lost their power.
Well, Love has gained his object; and Love only is
to blame for having induced our dear friend, in the
innocence of her heart, to confide in such a perfidious
man. Possibly, however, the imprecation of Durvasas
may he already taking effect. Indeed, I cannot
otherwise account for the King’s strange conduct,
in allowing so long a time to elapse without even a
letter; and that, too, after so many promises and protestations.
I cannot think what to do unless we send him the ring
which was to be the token of recognition. But
which of these austere hermits could we ask to be
the bearer of it? Then, again, Father Kanwa has
just returned from his pilgrimage; and how am I to
inform him of [S’]akoontala’s marriage
to King Dushyanta, and her expectation of becoming
soon a mother? I never could bring myself to
tell him, even if I felt that [S’]akoontala had
been in fault, which she certainly has not. What
is to be done?